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Inspired by the works of Arthur C. Clarke, J.G. Ballard and Philip K. Dick, Infinite Summer sees Michael Lovett’s NZCA Lines “marry sci-fi futurism to personal intimacies” to produce what must surely be one of the funkiest apocalyptic concept albums of all time. Indeed, also featuring former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley and drummer Sarah Jones (Hot Chip, New Young Pony Club), the follow-up to 2012’s self-titled debut may center on […]

Named after a term used for trained assassins he heard in a documentary on espionage, Skilled Mechanics sees trip-hop trailblazer Tricky assemble his own killer team for the most collaborative studio effort of his lengthy career. Some of those on board are no stranger to the world of Adrian Thaws, including regular vocalist Francesca Belmonte who lends her sultry tones to the eerie synth-balladry of “We Begin,” drummer Luke Harris […]

As you’d expect from a founding member of studious classical-electro outfit Clean Bandit, British-Ugandan vocalist/rapper Love Ssega certainly isn’t short on brainpower. Born and raised in South London, the 24-year-old graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, then made the brave decision to quit the aforementioned Grammy winners to finish his Ph.D. in laser sensing. Love Ssega (real name Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka) is just as cultured as he […]

Judging by all the pre-release talk of shunning EDM, steering dance music back into a proper direction and making a piece of art, you’d expect Steve Angello’s second solo LP, Wild Youth, to be something of a game-changer. So it’s slightly baffling to hear that the Stockholm DJ has delivered the kind of unadventurous, generic and largely forgettable record he appears to be rallying against. Indeed, featuring guest appearances from […]

David Bowie, arguably one of the most influential figures in modern music for the past 40-plus years, died on Sunday, Jan. 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 69. While previous rumors of his death in years past were greatly exaggerated, the news has been confirmed by Bowie’s representatives and his son Duncan Jones (via Twitter). The following statement appears on Bowie’s official Facebook page: “David Bowie died peacefully […]

So after crowning Jamie xx’s “Loud Places” and Bob Moses’ Days Gone By as the greatest single and album of 2015 respectively, we now switch our attention to what we can expect to hear over the next twelve months in the world of dance/electronica. The first big album out of the blocks this year is Moth (Jan 22), the third album from alt-pop duo Chairlift, which judging by its first […]

Continuing our countdown of the best dance/electronica singles of the year (No. 40-31 is here), let’s pick up at number 30. 30) Nick Brewer – “Talk To Me” Okay, so Crystal Waters’ “Gypsy Woman” might not be the most original of sample choices, but in a year swamped by reworkings of ‘90s club classics, this hip-house anthem was easily the most joyous. 29) FKA twigs – “In Time” The standout […]

Dropped without any notice during their mammoth 24-hour Beatport DJ set last week, Skrillex & Diplo Present Jack Ü sees two kings of the EDM scene join forces for a surprise full-length LP which, unsurprisingly, isn’t exactly short on epic bass drops. The fratboy-friendly supergroup occasionally show signs that they’ve broadened their horizons since they first shared a stage together at the Mad Decent Block Party back in 2013. “To […]

Since reinventing himself as a hipster-haired master of brostep, Skrillex has been adopted as a hero by the fratboy festival crowd, worked with everyone from psychedelic rock gods The Doors to French DJ crew Birdy Nam Nam and won an astonishing six Grammy Awards, all without the aid of a proper full-length studio effort. Seven years after leaving post-hardcore outfit From First To Last to pursue a solo career, the […]

The worlds of pop, rock, R&B, rap, jazz, Latin and roots are all represented in at least four categories at the bloated ceremony that is the Grammys. And yet, despite becoming the dominant chart force of the decade, dance music acts are only specifically acknowledged under two awards, just one more than those competing for Best Regional Mexican Music Album or Best Album Notes. Even more indicative of the voters’ […]

A concept which began in the late 90s, the era of the superstar DJ was presumed to have been dead and buried up until the EDM scene started to take over America almost a decade later. Now, according to a new rich list published by Forbes magazine last week, the world’s biggest knob-twiddlers are raking in the kind of cash that most rock acts could only dream about. Indeed, the […]

A virtual unknown two years ago, former From First To Last frontman Sonny Moore has since become dubstep’s first-ever superstar under the moniker Skrillex, picking up three Grammy Awards, courting the attention of everyone from nu-metal pioneers Korn to rock legends The Doors, and even bagging himself a celebrity girlfriend in the shape of Ellie Goulding. Continuing his remarkably rapid rise to fame, it was announced this week that Skrillex […]